Arias-Álvarez G.A.1
[0000-0001-9990-4525]gustavoar2905@gmail.com
Vanegas-Alarcón D.A.1
[0000-0002-4394-1711]davidvaneal@gmail.com
García-Hernández A.L.1
[0000-0003-1670-2018]ikbolon84@gmail.com
Lopera-Toro A.2
[0000-0001-5097-1655]alejandro.lopera@gmail.com
Andresen E.3
[0000-0001-8957-4454]andresen@iies.unam.mx
Santos-Heredia M.C.4
[0000-0001-7617-0581]macasahe@gmail.com
- Grupo de Investigación Ecdysis, Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Biotecnología, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Quindío, Colombia
- Fundación Ecotrópico, Colombia
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, México
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia
Abstract
We evaluated the effect of vegetation cover on dung beetle communities and their ecological functions, comparing and relating community attributes and functional performance across three vegetation types: secondary forest, mixed forest, and pasture, in the Montaña del Ocaso Reserve (Quimbaya, Quindío). Sampling was conducted using pitfall traps and functional stations, with three sites per vegetation type. Pitfall traps were arranged in the corners of a 50 × 50 m triangle, and functional stations were placed 2 m away, baited with a 7:3 mixture of pig dung and human feces. Experimental dung pats contained 50 beads of 4 mm, 20 of 8 mm, and 10 of 12 mm. After 48 h, dung removal was quantified, undispersed beads were collected, and excavated soil was dried and weighed. A total of 1,569 individuals were collected, representing 18 species and 10 genera. Diversity varied only in pastures, while secondary and mixed forests showed no differences. However, secondary forest exhibited higher functional performance: over 90% of beads were dispersed, dung and soil removal were substantial, and biomass and body length were greater compared to other covers. Results indicate that species composition does not differ among covers, but functional performance occurs in specific patches with suitable conditions. Moreover, insect attributes strongly influence the magnitude of ecological functions.